Combination table cover and food cover



Dec. 27, 1955 LA CLAIRE M. RUNYON 2,728,155

COMBINATION TABLE COVER AND FOOD COVER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 12, 1953 \LQL 2 9 IN V EN TOR. M Au/v yo/v LA CLAIRE Dec. 27, 1955 LA CLAIRE M. RUNYON 2,723,165

COMBINATION TABLE COVER AND FOOD COVER Filed Oct. 12, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. AA Cl. A/RA'MAUA/YON ATTOR/VE Y United States Patent COMBINATION TABLE COVER AND FOOD COVER La Claire M. Runyon, Flushing, N. Y. Application October 12, 1953, Serial N 385,429

6 Claims. (Cl. 4568.3)

The present invention relates to a table cover and more particularly to a combination table cover and food cover.

Although table covers are generally employed for orna mental, protective or sanitary purposes, there are situations where covers as known are not adapted for use under conditions where a combination of useful purposes are desirable.

In particular, when table covers are employed outdoors such, for example, as for picnic tables and the like, there is a need for a weight to keep the cover from displacement due to wind gusts, and a need for a food cover to protect food against insects, dust, etc. Also, it is desirable for the table cover to have other utility, such, for example, as an adaptation for the retention of napkins and the like in easily available position.

It is an object of the present inveniton to provide a table a cover for outdoor use. It is another object of this invention to provide a table cover combined with a food cover. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a table cover for outdoor use which as a composite article incorporates the combination of a table cover and food cover and adaptions for the retention of napkins, utensils and the like in readily available position. Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the description hereinafter following and drawings forming a part hereof, in which:

Fig. 1 illustrates a plan view of a table cover combination in accordance with the present invention,

Fig. 2 illustrates a food cover adapted for combined use with the table cover of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 illustrates a segment of Fig. 2 showing a modification thereof,

Fig. 4 illustrates another segment of Fig. 2 showing a further modification, and

Fig. 5 illustrates still another present invention.

According to the present invention I provide a table cover suitable for outdoor use and comprising the combination of a table cover and food cover including a means for detachably or releasably securing the food cover to the table cover at adjustable positions, wherein the food cover is particularly adaptable for securement at such adjustable positions.

Regarding Fig. 1, the table cover 1 comprises any suitable textile cloth material, e. g. denim, linen, duck, or the like, or woven or knitted material of artificial fibres, or a sheet of plastic material, e. g. a polyethylene sheet, having secured thereto at a suitable distance from its edges a plurality of spaced snap fastener components, e. g. components a, b, and c, which are the receiver components for snap fastener insert components, wherein the receiver and insert components constitute a snap fastener well known in the art. Preferably, I provide such snap fastener receiver components as cooperating pairs, each pair being located inwardly of the corners of the table cover 1 and the components of each pair being spaced from each other defining the sides of an octagon, said octagon defining a central portion of the table cover 1. I further provide a modification of the octagon defining snap fastener receiver components to provide for outer and inner octagon designs, or concentric octagon designs.

Broadly, I may locate the spaced snap fastener receiver components around a central area of the table cover in spaced perimeters of concentric geometric designs for the purpose hereinafter more particularly described.

Fig. 2 illustrates a food cover 2 having preferably a shape and size corresponding to the outer geometric design defined out by the snap fastener receiver components secured to the table cover 1.

The food cover comprises either a sheet of plastic material or a sheet of such plastic material 3, e. g. polyethylene, secured by stitching 4, or the like to the edges of sides of a textile material 5, wherein the textile material comprises the outer layer and the plastic material the inner layer contactable with the food, etc., on the central area of the table cover 1, so that the textile is thereby protected from contact with the food or the like by the easily cleaned plastic sheet 3. The food cover 2 is provided at its perimeter with a set of spaced snap-fastener insert components 6 corresponding in design to that of the design laid out by the snap-fastener receiver members on the table cover 1.

When the snap-fastener insert components are engaged with the snap-fastener receiver components along the perimeter of the outer concentric geometric design, the food cover will assume a fiat condition with respect to the table cover.

However, when the snap-fastener inserts are engaged along an inner perimeter of the concentric geometric design on the table cover, the central area of the food cover will become slack thereby enabling the coverage of food placed between the table cover 1 and the food cover 2 while the food cover is secured to the table cover by means of snap-fastening along the said inner perimeter of concentric geometric design.

Referring to Figs. 3, 4, and 5, I provide elastic means on at least a portion of the food cover perimeter, e. g. on opposite sides in the case of the octagon shaped food cover illustrated by Fig. 2. The elastic means precludes the formation of large openings between the food cover and table cover when the food cover is engaged with the table cover in slack condition. For example, I may elastically gather such sides, as illustrated at 7 and 8 of Figs. 3 and 4 respectively, or I may stitch or otherwise secure a strip of elastic warp woven material 9 at such sides.

Having provided the combination of table cover and food cover hereinabove set forth, I may further adapt the table cover with increased utility by providing weights 10 at the corners thereof to prevent against displacement thereof, and I may provide a pocket 11 on one end portion thereof for containing utensils or plates 12 and the like.

On the other end portion of the table cover I may provide pockets 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 and 13', 14, 15, 16, 17 for containing napkins 18. When the table cover is placed over a table, the end portions will provide downwardly skirted portions containing the said pockets depending from the top of the table.

What I claim is:

1. A combination table cover and food cover comprising a table cover, a plurality of spaced fastener means secured to the table cover and defining inner and outer spaced perimeters about a central area thereof, an adjustable food cover, a plurality of spaced fastener members secured to the edges of said food cover and positioned for engagement with said fastener means, said fastener members of said food cover being selectively detachably engageable with the fastener means defining said inner and outer perimeters.

plurality of sets of such ing a table cover, a plurality of spaced 'fastener means secured to the table cover and defining inner and outer spaced perimeters of a concentric geometric design-about a central area thereof, an adjustable food cover, a plurality of spaced'fastener members secured to the edges'of said food cover and positioned for engagement with said fastener means, said fastener members of said food cover being selectively detachably engageable with the fastener means defining said inner and outerperimeters of said concentric geometric design, said geometric design being in the shape of an octagon, elastic means on opposite edges of said "food cover.

3. A combination table cover and food cover comprising a table cover, a plurality of spaced fastener means secured to the :table cover and defining inner and outer spaced'perimeters of a concentric ,geometric design about a central area 'thereofl'an adjustable food cover, a pinrality of spaced fastener members secured to the edges of said food cover and positioned .for engagement with said fastener means, said fastener members of said food cover being selectively detachably engageable with the fastener means defining said inner and outer perimeters -ofsaid concentric geometric design, said food cover comprising a textile material with a sheet of plastic material lining a surface thereof. 5 4. A combination table cover and food cover according to claim 2, wherein said elastic means constitutes an elastic gathering of said edges 5. A combination of a table cover and food cover according to claim '2, wherein said elastic means constitutes a strip of elastic warp woven material stitched to said opposite edges.

6. A combination of a table cover and food cover according .to vclairnt2, comprising a weight securedto each corner of said table cover. 

